Encryptionizer vs. EFS

Microsoft’s Encrypted File System (EFS) will be an acceptable solution for many people. However we believe that NetLib® Encryptionizer® offers some important advantages over the Encrypted File System. We try to outline a few here.

Feature / Comparison NetLib
Encryptionizer
EFS  Comments

Operating Systems WinNT, Win2K, WinXP, Win95, Win98, WinME, Win3.X*, MSDOS*

 

* with legacy versions

Win2K, WinXP Encrypted files can be protected across different platforms and media types –  e.g., SQL Server on Win2K and MSDE on WinME can both use same encryption strategy.

File Systems
NTFS, FAT32, FAT16, CDROM, DVD, RDR, RAW NTFS  

Encrypted files can be protected from Domain/Windows Administrator.
Yes No Additional layer of protection disassociated with rights.

Files copied to non-NTFS media can be automatically encrypted Yes No Backups can be automatically encrypted even if on non-NTFS media.

Performance
Asynchronous I/O Synchronous I/O May possibly result in decreased performance, according to Microsoft

Support for Windows NT 4.0
Yes No  

Supports encrypted files on CDROM and DVD
Yes No  

Can integrate into an install script Yes No Easy to bundle with an application. EFS must be deployed by end user.

Keys can be stored on another server, diskette, CD, USB key, etc., for additional security. Yes No  

Can be used to encrypt individual columns Yes (*) No (*)Requires column encryption option.